Page 90 of Bound By A Promise

“Someone in California,” Dario hypothesized. He typed something into his phone. “Yes, the area code 310 is California—Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and Santa Catalina Island.”

Aléjandro hit my shoulder. “Catalina Island is nearly fifty miles off the coast. It used to be considered part of México, but now it’s California.”

“In international waters?” Mia asked.

“Yeah.”

My words were more of a growl. “I’ll fucking fly back to California.”

“I’m going with you,” Aléjandro said.

“No.” Dario lifted his hands. “Not yet. Camila has only been gone for less than an hour. Armando had soldiers headed to airports. I don’t want the two of you going off headstrong, causing a war with Herrera in international waters.”

“I’m not interested in starting a war, just cutting off his balls.”

My brother’s nostrils flared as he stared at me.

“Fine, I won’t get into a plane. But I can’t stand around here any longer.” I looked at my brother. “The women should be taken back to our home. Mia’s pregnant and Valentina is a wreck.”

Dario nodded. “Give Camila’s phone to me. I’ll take it to Lorenzo at Emerald Club. He should probably sweep it anyway. There might be some clues on there.”

“Can he find out where the text message originated from?” I asked.

“I’ll ask him.”

I looked at Aléjandro with Mia at his side. “Stay with Mia. I’m going to head out to Lee’s Summit. It’s the airport the cartel used for the wedding.”

“Did Herrera use it too?” Dario asked.

“I don’t know, but I can’t not be doing something.”

Aléjandro kissed Mia’s hair and turned to me. “I’m going with you.”

“Take Nico and Luca,” Dario said, motioning the two soldiers in our direction.

“Four won’t fit in my car,” I said.

Dario reached out his hand. “Give me your keys. I’ll have Giovanni drive your car back. You take one of the sedans.”

“My car’s faster.”

“You’d probably end up pulled over for speeding from some rookie cop who hasn’t learned the power of the Luciano name. Then we’re all fucked.”

Aléjandro gave Dario the keys to my Aston Martin as I took the driver’s seat of the sedan. My brother-in-law was at my side, and Nico and Luca sat in the back seat, armed like us.

“Lee’s Summit is small,” Nico said. “Hard to sneak in and out of.”

“An international airport is hard to sneak in and out of,” I said. “In a small airport, fewer people ask questions.”

I met Luca’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “Find out if Armando sent soldiers to Lee’s Summit and let them know we’re on our way. GPS says it will be twenty-six minutes.” I turned to Aléjandro. “My Aston Martin is much faster.”

About fifteen minutes into our drive, Luca received a call. “It’s Enrico. He’s at Lee’s Summit.”

Enrico was young, but a promising soldier in our famiglia. I had my eye on him to help run Emerald Club with Antonio. “Put him on speaker,” I said, pushing the accelerator.

“Rico,” Luca said, “you’re on speaker. Dante is here.”

“Boss, this isn’t the right airport.”